to see? >> i am looking forward to taking some data. [laughter] i probably shouldn't for my weight. the greater start up of new businesses in this country is at a record high. we need a rebalancing between the public and private sectors. we need this entrepreneurship. we put a cap on 1%.

above all, on this issue, what i think is the right thing to do is to cut taxes the people in work rather than take more in taxes and redistribute it. >> it cannot be fair. [indiscernible] >> i think my honorable friend put it clearly. many people have seen a pay freeze year after year and welfare benefits have gone up. we face a choice.

do we go on putting those welfare benefits up, which is not helping those people who are in work, or do we make the tough decisions? the only welfare labour who anyone took seriously said their approach is not serious. he is right. >> thank you. may i congratulate the prime minister and the u.k. government of following the lead of scottish government in introducing equal marriage, minimum pricing for alcohol, and, previously, on the smoking ban. will he follow in the lead of the scottish government? >> because of the measures taken, there is an extra 300 million pounds with the

scottish government to spend. i am happy to say when good policies are introduced, i think we all have the opportunity to follow them. >> you have been watching the prime minister's questions. question time airs live on c- span2 every wednesday at 7:00 a.m. eastern when the house of commons is in session. again on sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. eastern and pacific on c- span. but any time ad c-span.org ord. -- watch any time at c-span.org on order. >> tomorrow, a discussion about the implementation of the e- government act. hosted by the information technology and innovation foundation. we will have that live at 9:00

a.m. eastern and c-span 3. -- on c-span 3. >> i think the challenge for us is that we want to see on every device for every person -- we are a mobile society. the challenge is to make sure that we are on ipads, computers, phones, and traditional view reid on how wonderful high-definition television screen. the other challenge we have obviously is that spectrum is a finite resource. others what that resource. -- want that resource. there is not enough spectrum in the universe to do all video by broad bed. -- broadband. their system will always fail because of the congestion of

transmitting video one-to-one. you cannot do that. >> the communicators continues its look at the future of television ad monday night with a gordon smith. >> president obama was in newtown, connecticut where he spoke at an interest -- an interfaith vigil to mourn the victims of the mass shooting at sandy hook elementary school. he met with members of the family and members of the police force. he spoke about the inspiration that the community had shown in the aftermath of the cap -- in the aftermath of the tragedy. other speakers at the service included the connecticut governor. this is about an hour and 15 minutes. >> on behalf of the new town interfaith clergy association, i

welcome all of you. we needed this. we needed to be together here in this room. in the gymnasium, outside the doors of the school, in living rooms around the world. we needed to be together. to show that we are together and united. we gather in such a moment of heartbreak for all of us here in newtown. we gather especially mindful of family and friends and neighbors among us who have lost loved ones by an act of unfathomable violence and destruction. we gathered to greet together, to care for one another, to

pray and embrace, to weep and to remember, to declare in our many voices that these darkest days of our community shall not be the final words heard from ross. -- from us. we will care for one another. with our love and compassion. in those early hours of this crisis, it became clear to the clergy and state leaders -- faith leaders that an initial committed to response would be needed, that we needed to come together. we ask our first select woman and our superintendent if it might be possible for us to gather the community together here at newtown high-school to continue what will be for many a

long journey in grief and loss. we are not here to ignore or differences or to diminish the core beliefs which define our many different faith traditions. instead, we offer our care, prayers', and love for our families and communities. we wanted to offer our voices in the form of words from our sacred text and prayers from the depths of our being, but also have time for us to be together in silence. that is what we will do. we will have a time for sharing and prayer and also a time for silence in between so that all of us can pray as we wish and think about what it is that is most important to us. there is a reason why all of the

clergy are sitting down there and not appear. we hope you do not get tired of us having a long walk up to the podium. we wanted to have a symbolic gesture that we ourselves are with you and among you in these coming days, that we are all in this together. we want you to know that our care for this community extends beyond the walls of our various houses of worship and the people within them. we are here for all of new town -- newtown. that means for you who are part of the catholic church, in the midst of your tremendous grief, there is a jewish rabbi it with the torah in hand to speak words of comfort and do whatever he can to uphold the law in the

coming days. the temple of israel, you have the service of a japanese american united methodist minister ready to prayer with you and share songs. we cut traditionalists note that we have muslim brothers and -- at this congregation know that we have muslim brothers and sisters ready to play alongside. lutherans offering grace in the ministry of jesus christ to independent christians and others -- and others. all of us are willing to offer and received comfort and support from those of no faith. now more than ever we need each other before we are all in this together. -- for we are all in this together. that is why we had our politicians sit down there as well, aside and simple a reminder to all of us that we are in this together.

now let us come together, let us pray, let us listen and let us seek the comfort of our various faiths, drawing from words and prayer's -- prayers. fear not, for i am with you cannot be not dismayed, for i am your god. i will street in new, i will uphold do -- i will strengthen you, i will pull do -- uphold you. god's spirit comforts us. blessed be our god forever and ever. amen.

>> i offer you this prayer from my heart to your heart's --

hearts on behalf of all of your children, all of your loved ones. the hebrew memorial prayer. please rise. ♪ ["the hebrew memorial prayer"]

>> ogata exulted and full of compassion, -- oh god exalted and full of compassion, great peace to the souls of all of our loved ones that perished in that horrible day. they have gone to their eternal home, master of mercy. we b.c. to. remember all of their were the enriches deeds that they performed -- we beseech you. remember all of their richest deeds that they performed. there is no death. just transformation. may rest in peace. let us say, amen. >> please be seated.

>> let us unite our parts in prayer. god, of love and mercy, we come up before you this night with a broken hearts. we offer you our tears and our pain, our anger and our sorrow. oh lord, there was a whole -- hole so large we wonder ago your greatness can fill it as we grieve for those who are lost. each light that sits before us is a light that has been lost to our world. so many innocents, so many brave, lord, all we can do is

throw ourselves upon your tender mercy, trusting that you hear our prayers' -- prayers. we know those who are lost because they are not names on some west -- some list, but because they are our mothers or sisters or brothers or friends. kindred all, because if we did not know them ourselves, we know somebody who did. we pray for all the souls lost and all the families and friends who are so torn by grief. in this moment, we are all your children, a family related by your love.

help us to care for these families in their sorrow and for each other in the hours. minnifield the killing embrace of a neighborhood -- may they feel the healing embrace of a neighborhood, a nation, a world. help us to remember when we embrace the grieving as our own , which brought together as one family to live together in peace and amity. help us to share of the white -- the lights that stand before us. help us to carry them out into this world. and share it with a world so in sorrow and so in need. we pray all of this in the name of your love as we all say, amen.

>> we invite you to join with us in psalm 23.

the lord is my shepherd, i shall not want. he make it me to lie down in green pastures. he leads me beside the still waters. he restores my soul. he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his namesake. though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death, i will fear no evil. they comfort me. thou prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. you anoint my head with oil, my cup runneth over. surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. i will dwell in the house of my lord forever.

>> let us pray. god in heaven, we thank you for your presence with us here on earth. we know that the children who were lost in this tragedy first belonged to you before they belonged to us. we commit their souls to you, to your loving, eternal care. we thank you that they are now in a place of no more sickness, no more sadness, no more suffering, and no more sorrow as there is finally no more sin in the presence of you.

lord, as we grieve the children lost, we ask that by your grace you would empower us to bless and comfort the children who are still here in our hands. please be with them in a special way as they grieve the loss of their friends. life will never be the same for them. we ask that you would help these precious little ones to carry the spirits of their lost loved ones in their hearts as they go on living their lives to its fullest according to your will. lord, we ask most of all that

you use us to be a source of your healing in the midst of their wounds, that you would use those of us whose children are crying for help as a source of your help in the midst of any hopelessness, as you are a god of hope. use us to replace their anxiety with your piece, as you are the god of peace. please, phill their hearts with a sense of your love, your presence, your power, and most of all, a sense of your care, not knowing what the future holds, but that you hold it, as you hold these precious little ones that sit with us today in

your hands through our hands. lord, we asked this all in the name of the one who said, unless we become like little children, we cannot enter the kingdom of god. make assault childlike and not childish -- us all childlike and not childish. that we may look to you for better days ahead. that we may fulfil your purpose for us on this earth. we pray of -- all of this in the name of our precious lord and savior, jesus. amen.

[singing]

[singing] >> in the name of god, the compassionate and the merciful, the muslim community throughout the nation joins with our fellow americans grieving for those who died in this tragedy and praying for their families. we ask god to grant those lost a special place in paradise and we ask their families to be

granted the strength to endure the unendureable. it is in such times of almost unbearable loss that we seek the comfort with our creator and that artificial divisions of faith fall away to reveal a nation of mothers and father's, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, all united in a desire to bring healing and renewed hope. islam's revealed text tells us that god's mercy and compassion are without limit and all the available for those who ask. god says when my servants question you about me, tell them that i am near. i answer the prayer of every person who calls on me, chapter 2, verse 186.

in the koran, god also says give glad tied togs those who endure with patience when afflicted with calamity say we belong to god and to him we shall return. those are the people upon are blessings from god. chapter 2, verse 155-157. so let us all of every faith of every background pray for god's comfort at this time of heart breaking tragedy. with every difficult there is ees, barely, with every difficulty there is ease. -- verily, with every difficulty there is ease. amen. >> a prayer for the first responders, let us pray. >> holy god, many of these men

and women you called into service when they were just children. they wanted to be police officers and firefighters and care for those that were in need, lord. you gave them gifts for their life to serve. you asked them to pay a high price for all the skills that they have been given, for the strength that they have. you equipped them, you gave them a willingness to learn, to train, to study. you gave them a willingness to serve in the middle of the night when a call would come in. and you gave them the

willingness to respond when this town needed them the most. lord, we thank you for those in this town that responded, but we thank you also for those throughout the state that came when the need was given. we thank you, lord, for their gifts and their strength and their courage. so we ask you lord to walk with them in the days ahead, to surround them with your angels, to give them people who will listen to their story, to listen to what they saw that was not for anyone to ever see. lord, we place each and every one of these men and women in

your care. but we will be faithful to them. we will care for them, we will continue to equip them and we will keep them ever in our prayers, amen.

>> for the mothers and the father's and the brothers and sisters and grandparents, for all of you today, this is part

of the sacred text. it was written as a letter to a mother who was mourning the loss of her child. i adapted it for this evening. >> although the loss of a child is indeed heart breaking and beyond the limits of human endurance, one who know eth and understand eth is assured that the child has not been lost, but rather has stepped from this world to another and you will find them in the i did have vine realm. that reunion shall be for eternity. while in this world separation is inevitable and bring with it a burning grief. praise be unto god that thou has faith, our turning think fice -- thy face toward the

everlasting kingdom and believe in the existence of a heavenly world. be thou not disconsolate. do not languish, do not sy, negotiate wail nor weep, for agitation and mourning deeply affect the soul, their soul in the divine realm. >> the beloved child address thee from the hidden world, oh kind mother and father, thank divine providence that i have been freed from a small and gloomy cage and like the birds of the meadows have sword to the divine world, a world which is spacious, illumined and ever joyous and jubilent.

lament not mother and father and be not grieved, aim not of the lost nor have i been obliterated and destroyed. i have shaken off the mortal form. following this separation is ever lasting companionship. thousand shalt find me in the heaven of the lord immersed in an ocean of light. >> think god, we call you by many names, great spirit, higher power, adonai, elohim,

power, divine one, but however we address you, you are always father and mother to us all. and we are your children, we are your family. we ask your blessing lord upon the counselors and the clergy and all the care givers among us, they have great passion for what they do. and when everyone does their passion, we arrive at compassion. and we thank you. we know that you're most aware of their needs. they too become tired and sometimes close to burning out, how much we need one another.

when you call jeremiah or amos and all your precious apostles and prophets, they hedged at first, but each time in turn they gave their yes and they followed you knowing that you were always among them, always supporting them. they were conduits for your eyes and ears and voice and hands. they were the clay knowing that you always were the potter and they were resilient in your hands. when jesus felt the need to get away for some respite himself he went to the mountains or into the wilderness or out to the seashore and the great numbers of people in need always followed.

tired and drained as he was, he looked on them with compassion. anoint all your people, lord, all those who minister to you as they minister to one another especially this week as they minister to the body, mind and spirit, to the whole community of sandy hook and newtown, a model for the nation, a model for the world. and we thank you for the world support, calling, e-mailing, texting their love and their commitment to be with us.

use them, lord, take the passion that each one has and transform it totally, completely into your spirit of compassion. and we ask this all, amen, amen.

>> newtown is a place that loves children above all. families move to newtown because we are a caring and loving community. we are also a place that has great pride in our schools, pride that propel it is students in those schools with their outstanding teachers and

administrators to high achievement and great personal worth. the horror that was visited upon our sandy hook school was not deserved. it is the angry and desperate act of a confused young man. there is no blame to be laid on us. but there is a great burden and a great challenge that these families devastated by unspeakable harm know and trust that we love them and will do everything we can to help them heal. i know that newtown will prevail, that will not fall to abilities of violence. it is a defining moment for our town, but it does not define us. we are newtown, a special and caring place. we are defined by acts of courage, by acts of love and by

our continuing commitment and love for our children and families. it is my pleasure to present to you ladies and gentlemen, governor dan malloy. [applause] >> pat, thank you for all of the great work that have you done for this community in the last three days to the police chief and the superintendent of schools, thank you for your great service as well to all of the first responders, thank you. when i came in to the hall, one of the first songs to be played was amazing grace which is

fitting for any number of reasons. it's become an anthem for first responders. it has great words. it also speaks of the power of faith. amazing grace was written by a former sea captain engaged in the slave trade. and those profound words that i once was lost and now am found speak to us on a day like today when we are called upon, ner i say required to be invested in our faith, in this room and in this community at this time. a faith that is after all at its very core a gift from god.

a faith in which we find comfort and hope and compassion. a faith in which we are given power to go on, to survive that which has befallen on this community, these families, these spouses, that which has happened and is unimagineable and unthinkable and was never we thought intended to be upon us in connecticut or in newtown or in sandy hook. i choose to think about the fact that in the coming days we will officially enter winter. and that is always to be followed by the spring.

let me assure you that in winter each time i see the beginning of a snowfall, i will be thinking of those 27 souls lost just a few days ago. each time the day gets a little longer, i will think and dream of the lives that might have been and the lives that were so full of grace. and when the flowers start to come out of the ground and when they rise up, i will know that we are in touch with those that we have lost in the last few days. we will go on, we will find strength. faith is a gift as is our ability to support one another

in our greater community. to all of you, i extend my most profound condolences on behalf of all of your fellow citizens for what you have seen, for what you have witnessed and for what have you personally experienced. we will move on, we will never forget, we will in many ways be made stronger for what has transpired and we will get better. we are blessed today to have with us the president of the united states who upon meeting with pat and i just a little while ago said that the most difficult day of his presidency was friday when he heard the news of that which had befallen this community.

i assured him that connecticut, newtown and sandy hook are strong. and i welcomed him on your behalf to our community. i now introduce the president of the united states. [applause] >> thank you. thank you, governor. to all the families, first responders, to the community of newtown, clergy, guests,

scripture tells us, "do not lose heart. though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly, we are being renewed day by day. "for light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all, so we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. for we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from god, an eternal house in heaven not built by human hands."

we gather here in memory of 20 beautiful children and six remarkable adults. they lost their lives in a school that could have been any school in a quiet town full of good and decent people that could be any town in america. here in newtown, i come to offer the love and prayers of a nation. i am very mindful that mere words cannot match the depths of your sorrow, nor can they heal your wounded hearts. i can only hope it helps for you to know that you're not

alone in your grief, that our world, too, has been torn apart, that all across this land of ours, we have wept with you. we've pulled our children tight. and you must know that whatever measure of comfort we can provide, we will provide. whatever portion of sadness that we can share with you to ease this heavy load, we will gladly bear it. newtown, you are not alone. as these difficult days have unfolded, you've also inspired us with stories of strength and

resolve and sacrifice. we know that when danger arrived in the halls of sandy hook elementary, the school's staff did not flinch. they did not hesitate. dawn hocksprung and mary sherlach, vicki soto, lauren russeau, rachel davino and anne marie murphy, they responded as we all hope we might respond in such terrifying circumstances, with courage and with love, giving their lives to protect the children in their care. we know that there were other teachers who barricaded

themselves inside classrooms and kept steady through it all and reassured their students by saying, "wait for the good guys, they are coming. show me your smile." and we know that good guys came, the first responders who raced to the scene helping to guide those in harm's way to safety and comfort those in need, holding at bay their own shock and their own trauma, because they had a job to do and others needed them more. and then there were the scenes of the schoolchildren helping one another, holding each other, dutifully following instructions in the way that young children sometimes do, one child even trying to encourage a grownup by saying, "i know

karate, so it's ok. i'll lead the way out." as a community, you've inspired us, newtown. in the face of indescribable violence, in the face of unconscionable evil, you've looked out for each other. you've cared for one another. and you've loved one another. this is how newtown will be remembered, and with time and god's grace, that love will see you through. but we as a nation, we are left with some hard questions.

you know, someone once described the joy and anxiety of parenthood as the equivalent of having your heart outside of your body all the time, walking around. with their very first cry, this most precious, vital part of ourselves, our child, is suddenly exposed to the world, to possible mishap or malice, and every parent knows there's nothing we will not do to shield our children from harm. and yet, we also know that with that child's very first step and each step after that, they are

separating from us, that we won't -- that we can't always be there for them. they will suffer sickness and setbacks and broken hearts and disappointments, and we learn that our most important job is to give them what they need to become self-reliant and capable and resilient, ready to face the world without fear. by we know we can't do this ourselves. it comes as a shock at a certain point where you realize no matter how much you love these kids, you can't do it by yourself, that this job of keeping our children safe and teaching them well is something

we can only do together, with the help of friends and neighbors, the help of a community and the help of a nation. and in that way we come to realize that we bear responsibility for every child, because we're counting on everybody else to help look after ours, that we're all parents, that they are all our children. this is our first task, caring for our children. it's our first job. if we don't get that right, we don't get anything right. that's how, as a society, we will be judged. and by that measure, can we

truly say, as a nation, that we're meeting our obligations? can we honestly say that we're doing enough to keep our children, all of them, safe from harm? can we claim, as a nation, that we're all together there, letting them know they are loved and teaching them to love in return? can we say that we're truly doing enough to give all the children of this country the chance they deserve to live out their lives in happiness and with purpose? i've been reflecting on this the last few days, and if we're honest with ourselves, the answer's no. we're not doing enough. and we will have to change.

since i've been president, this is the fourth time we have come together to comfort a grieving community torn apart by mass shootings, fourth time we've hugged survivors, the fourth time we've consoled the families of victims. and in between, there have been an endless series of deadly shootings across the country, almost daily reports of victims, many of them children, in small towns and in big cities all across america, victims whose -- much of the time their only fault was being at the wrong place at the wrong time. we can't tolerate this anymore. these tragedies must end.

and to end them, we must change. we will be told that the causes of such violence are complex, and that is true. no single law, no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society, but that can't be an excuse for inaction. surely, we can do better than this. if there's even one step we can take to save another child or another parent or another town from the grief that's visited tucson and aurora and oak creek and newtown and communities from columbine to blacksburg before that, then surely we have an obligation to try.

in the coming weeks, i'll use whatever power this office holds to engage my fellow citizens, from law enforcement, to mental health professionals, to parents and educators, in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this, because what choice do we have? we can't accept events like this as routine. are we really prepared to say that we're powerless in the face of such carnage, that the politics are too hard? are we prepared to say that such violence visited on our children year after year after year is somehow the price of our freedom?

you know, all the world's religions, so many of them represented here today, start with a simple question. why are we here? what gives our life meaning? what gives our acts purpose? we know our time on this earth is fleeting. we know that we will each have our share of pleasure and pain, that even after we chase after some earthly goal, whether it's wealth or power or fame or just

simple comfort, we will, in some fashion, fall short of what we had hoped. we know that, no matter how good our intentions, we'll all stumble sometimes in some way. we'll make mistakes, we'll experience hardships, and even when we're trying to do the right thing, we know that much of our time will be spent groping through the darkness, so often unable to discern god's heavenly plans. there's only one thing we can be sure of, and that is the love that we have for our children, for our families, for each other. the warmth of a small child's embrace, that is true. the memories we have of them, the joy that they bring, the wonder we see through their eyes, that fierce and boundless love we feel for them, a love

that takes us out of ourselves and binds us to something larger, we know that's what matters. we know we're always doing right when we're taking care of them, when we're teaching them well, when we're showing acts of kindness. we don't go wrong when we do that. that's what we can be sure of, and that's what you, the people of newtown, have reminded us. that's how you've inspired us. you remind us what matters. and that's what should drive us forward in everything we do for as long as god sees fit to keep us on this earth.

"let the little children come to me," jesus said, "and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." charlotte, daniel, olivia, josephine, ana, dylan, madeline, catherine, chase, jesse, james, grace, emilie, jack, noah, caroline, jessica, benjamin, avielle, allison, god has called them all home.

for those of us who remain, let us find the strength to carry on and make our country worthy of their memory. may god bless and keep those we've lost in his heavenly place. may he grace those we still have with his holy comfort, and may he bless and watch over this community and the united states of america.

[applause] >> on behalf of the newtown clergy association we are so grateful to our president for

spending time was and for reminding us that we are not alone in this time of tragedy, that there is not just a country standing behind us, that there is a world standing behind us. those words as difficult as they were to hear for some brought consolation to some. i want to thank the government officials who have been by our side since day one. they have reminded us of their humanity and care for us. i want to thank an incredible select woman who has led us through the most dark periods of our lives. [applause]

when storms of the past years ravished our community for power for days i thought those were the hardest. when i saw her friday in front of sandy hook school. i knew she had met the darkest days. we thank you for being leaders to us through these difficult times. and now this final part of our prayer is for us, the people of newtown. >> these are the words of the apostle paul as he writes to the church at rome. what shall we say in response to this, if god is for us, who can be against us. he who did not spare his own son but gave him up for all of us. how will he graciously give us all things. who will bring any charge

against those god has chosen, it is god who justifies, who is he that condemns? christ jesus who died, more than that who was raced to life is at the right-hand of god is also interceding for us. who shall separate us from the love of christ, shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? as it is written for your sake we face death all day long, we are considered sheep to be slaughtered. we are more than conquerors for him who loved us. i am convinced that negotiate death nor life, negotiate angels or demons negotiate height nor death nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of god that is in christ jesus our lord.

>> so we stand now in prayer for ourselves. our hearts are broken but our spirits are strengthened by the power of god's good and his ever creating love and by the generous hearts of a community who truly cares. we have shown to the world our compassion. you have placed on our shoulders a burden of unimaginable pain. to make of this world a place of justice, of peace of truth for our people, especially for our young. we thank you this night for our community leaders who have walked a dark road helping us find a light. we praise you for men and women

in his love for each other have given us children that we might guide and encourage them. we seek your wisdom as our administrators and educators continue to teach our children ways which will strengthen them to be productive and positive citizens of this world, to only bring good. we pray this will soon be replaced with a culture of life that embraces every person with human dignity. we are brought to you tonight in our prayer, those who have been lost, those whose hearts are broken forever. we bring your 20 new stores in the heavens, 20 new state and angels. -- saints and angels. those who risked their lives every day, not counting the

costs, and we bring to you those who guide, those who counsel, those who bless and embrace the confused and broken, and we bring to view ourselves are broken this, our questions, our doubts, and our anger in our hearts, and we pray for the peace, hope, and renewal of trust that can come only from a god who first conceived as in love and places and hands of compassion on our shoulders, even in these challenging times, so tonight in our community, we ask you to heal the broker innocents -- the brokenness, to replace our anger with peace and are hurt with healing. god, we thank you for this town. we thank you for its people,

and we thank you for the opportunity to stand together and not fall apart. amen. now a final blessing of hope through faith in jesus christ from the words of st. john to st. paul. i heard a loud voice from the throne saying, behold the dwelling place of god is within man. he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and god will be with them as their god. he shall wipe away every year from their eyes, and to death shall be no more. neither shall there be morning or crying -- mourning or crying or pain.

he who was seated on the throne said, behold, i am making all things, and a decrease of our lord, jesus christ, made the grace of our lord, jesus christ, the love of our god, and the holy spirit be with you all. amen. i asked you to please take your seats until i can receive confirmation the president has safely exited and now the school campus. i do not know who that confirmation is going to come from. allow me to say while we wait for that we encourage all of you on behalf of the town clergy, give to one another all the love and care and support you can, and clergy will be available for you at this time at the platform for a time of prayer according to teachings

and believes, so please wait until i hear that confirmation, and comfort one another. ladies and gentlemen, we have received that confirmation hearing gave -- that confirmation. give one another the love you can. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2012]

>> coming up, a hearing on high- speed rail followed by an update

on egypt's referendum. and another look on the interfaith service, including remarks by president obama. tomorrow, the american federation of government employees. she talks about how spending cuts could impact federal workers. professor and director of the center for congressional studies previews feel like toro college voting process. and david from the government accountability office explains the program that gives money to states to prevent and recover from a terrorist incident. live at 7:00 a.m. eastern on c- span. the ohio but toro college meets at noon eastern tomorrow to cuss -- cast votes for obama.

a discussion about the future of high-speed rail in the northeast corridor of the united states. it includes washington, philadelphia, new york city and boston. the hearing was held last thursday and is about 2 1/2 hours. >> good morning and welcome to this hearing of the house transportation and infrastructure committee. welcome, everyone this morning. please you could join us. the title of the hearing is the

northeast corridor future and options for high-speed rail development, opportunities for private sector participation. the order of business will be opening statements by members. we have another member who has joined us and we'll have an individual panel and then we will go to our next panel of witnesses. we will question them and proceed with the hearing in that order. let me make a couple of custodial announcements. i apologize, the other day we try to get the official hearing -- i am sorry, the official committee room photo of the committee. we will reschedule that and if

the votes are cancelled on monday, i do not know if they have made that announcement, if they do, we will probably shift the official photo to wednesday morning. folks may not come back until tuesday and probably about 10:15 because of the republican conference from 9:00 to 10:00. we want to make certain everyone is notified. i would like to the members in the official photo, if we could have staff join us for one of the photos so that we can include them in one of the photographs that morning. it should not take more than five or 10 minutes. we would like to invite everyone and put everyone on notice. we will try to get triple notification for that. this morning's hearing is a

continuation -- the last full hearing of the committee. i am pleased to have chaired the committee during the past 20 some months and focus on our transportation needs and requirements. the first hearing i held as chairman was january 27, it was a field hearing in grand central station. it focused on the same issue, the northeast corridor. this hearing is also part of a series of hearings to examine some of the operations of our primary transportation, long- distance and high-speed carrier, which is amtrak. as you know, i have been one of the most vocal critics of the

amtrak and its operations but i am also, i consider myself a proponent of high-speed rail, intercity passenger service, commuter and mass transit. what we want our projects that makes sense for the taxpayers and projects that operate where we have the greatest need and the lowest subsidies by the federal government for those activities. today we will focus on the northeast corridor. let me make a few comments about that. i have to say, the history of man track and attempting to provide high-speed rail has been a horrible history. maybe i can highlight some of

the problems we have had. i do not want to focus just on the problems but you have to learn by your experience. the original intent to develop a high-speed rail, we came up with a project. we have had regional service in the northeast corridor, in the area from washington, d.c. to new york and boston. let me say i think it is critical we develop that corridor. not only the regional interest but in the national and interest. we have the highest concentration of population, the most sophisticated delivery system and interconnection, subway, metro, connectors all up subway, metro, connectors all up and down